PS 3513 
.019 S5 
1909 
CopV ^ 




RT po: 




GEORGE GOIDOY 



» 




1909 

press of the sudwarth printing co. 

Washington, d. C. 



w 



^ 



jM 



w 



»S 3513 


019 


S5 


L909 




:opy 


1 



SHORT POEMS 



GEORGE GODOY 



Copyright, 1909, by G. GODOY 









l1 



0l 



LIBRARY of CONQSESS 
Two Copies Receh'ed 

FEB 5 1909 

. CopyrlKiit Entry 
^LASS <X XXc, !Vo 
COPY 3. ' 



This volume is affedionately dedicated to his 
Mother and Father. 

— The Author. 



[3] 



^5 



TO THE READER 



I have yet a great deal to learn — I sm but seven- 
teen at present — still, I could not forego the pleas- 
ure of having you pass indulgent judgment on my 
first essays in the field of poetry. 

GEORGE GODOY. 

Washington, D. C, January. 1909. 



Ul 



SHORT POEMS 



WHEN I THINK OF YOU 

Pleasure has no limit, 

Dreams seem to come true, 
Life is worth while living 

When I think of you. 

Roses sweet with perfume, 
Flowers wet with dew, 

Nature makes me happy 
When I think of you. 

Diamonds, pearls and rubies, 
Gold and money, too, 

Seem to me quite worthless 
When I think of you. 

Sweetheart, listen to me. 
What I've said is true. 

Life is worth while living 
When I think of you. 



SHORT POEMS 



A WINTER SONG 

The birds of spring 
No longer sing, 

The rose is seen no more ; 
The girl I love 
Is like the dove, 

Gone to a foreign shore. 

I sit alone 

When spring is gone, 

And feel so broken hearted ; 
I sigh and sigh, 
'Tis years gone by. 

When we as lovers parted. 

It is in vain. 
For ne'er again 

Will I see my sweetheart true. 
Ten years ago 
She saw the snow, 

And then closed her eyes of blue. 

The birds of spring 
No longer sing. 

The rose is seen no more ; 
The girl I love 
Is like the dove, 

Gone to a foreign shore. 



SHORT POEMS 



TN THE LAND OF MEXICO 

There are mountains grand and lofty 
Where snow Ues all the year, 

And towers whence the enemy 
Shrank back in deadly fear. 

There are blue seas famed in hist'ry 
Where 'tis said rare plants did grow, 

But I would like to be again 
In the land of Mexico. 

There are birds of rarest plumage, 
I have heard some people say, 

And that they sing melodiously 
Every night and every day. 

There are soldiers strong and daring 
Where the river Rhine does flow, 

Still I only will be happy 
In the land of Mexico. 

There are countries where the airship 

Has become the latest fad, 
And the people living there 

Over it are going mad. 

There are persons living here 
Who are always on the go. 

But I would lead a simple life 
In the land of Mexico. 

There are pretty girls in Italy, 
And of course in sunny Spain, 

But the reason I don't like them. 
Really T cannot explain. 

There are Gibson girls and others 
In this country don't you know 

But I love the dark-eyed maidens 
In the land of Mexico. 



SHORT POEMS 



HER BLUE EYES 

'Tis not her rosy cheeks I like, 

'Tis not her smiling lips, 
"Tis not the roses that she wears, 

'Tis not her finger-tips. 

'Tis not her locks of golden hair, 

'Tis not her dresses fine, 
'Tis not her diamonds and her pearls, 

'Tis not her shape divine. 

'Tis only her bright eyes of blue. 

For in these eyes I see 
That she means I was meant for her, 

And she was meant for me. 



SHORT POEMS 



THE ACTOR AS A LOVER 

To be near you, 
To love you 

With a love nig^h divine, 
To look at you, 
To kiss you 

And your lips close to mine. 

To laugh with you, 
Weep with you 

When we two are alone ; 
To embrace you, 
Adore you 

And to call you my own. 

This dear sweetheart. 
My sweetheart. 

Shows how much I love you, 
This dear sweetheart, 
My sweetheart, 

I've rehearsed through and through. 



SHORT POEMS 



RETROSPECT 

I saw her a child with g-olden locks, 
I saw her a maiden sweet and fair, 

I saw her buried by the rocks, 
And now I see her everywhere. 



SAD AND GLAD 



I was alone 

Before you came 
And sorrow was 

My only aim. 

But now I'm glad, — 
I guess you know, 

For I have learned. 
To love you so. 



SHORT POEMS n 



THE PRETTY GIRLS IN WASH- 
INGTON 

Just supposing" some one asked me; 

"Now, which girls do you love more, 
The ones living in Chicago 

Or the ones in P>altimore? 

I would answer and I'd tell him, 

"Friend, they've asked me that hefore, 
But as I have never been in 
Chicago or Baltimore. 

"I cannot answer your question : 

Only tell you I adore 
The pretty girls in Washington, 
Chicago and Baltimore." 



SHORT POEMS 



MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT 

I bought her Christmas presents, 
Roses and chocolates, too, 

A pearl and diamond necklace, 
And then bade her adieu. 

The next time that I saw her. 
She spoke thus, blushingly: 
"What Ixind of Christmas present 
Will you receive from me?" 

I answered not her question, 
'Twas wise that I did this : 
The kind of Christmas present 
She gave me was a kiss. 



SHORT POEMS 



13 



MY GIRL 

Blonde hair, 
Blue eyes, 

Red lips, 
And wise. 

Small feet. 

Cute nose, 
Cheeks like 

A rose. 

No gold, 

No pearls. 
Like some 

Rich girls. 

Stuck up? 

Why. no; 
Fellows, 

One beau. 

Jealous 

Of her? 
Never! 

No, sir. 

For I 

Know she 
Is fond 

Of me. 



14 SHORT POEMS 



THE LONG FORGOTTEN SCHOOL- 
HOUSE 

Among the trees half hidden, 

By a narrow country road, 
Where some poor weary traveler, 

Out of breath puts down his load. 

Where Nature with its mysteries. 

In the forest holds its sway. 
The long forgotten school-house. 

Is still standing to this day. 

Along the broken windows, 

Many a vine there clusters 'round, 

The birds' sweet happy carol. 
Is the only distant sound. 

How well do I remember, 
Those days that come no more, 

The tricks we played on teacher, 
And all the books we tore. 

So when the sun is sinking, 
In the West so far away, 
My children often coax me, 
"Oh, dear daddy, tell us pray. 

Of the days when ma and you, 

Went to school so long ago, 
And the happy times you had, 

For we all do want to know." 

Then a smile played 'bout my lips. 

And we all sat 'neath a tree, 
While I took them one by one, 

Quickly on my trembling knee. 

So I told them of those times 

When to school we turned our way, 

And how different it was then 
From the schools we have to-day. 

Then the years came back again. 

And my heart throbbed fast with joy, 

For I saw the old school-house 
And I saw myself a boy. 



SHORT POEMS 15 



TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF BEING 
AFRAID 

[From the Spanish of Ramon de Canipoamor.] 

Just as the sun was sinking, 
In the West, she far from me, 

Said : "Do not come so near, 
For I am afraid of thee." 

No sooner had the night passed, 
When she nestled close to me, 

And said : "Do not go away, 
I'm afraid unless with thee." 



FROM THE POOR MAN'S POINT OF 
VIEW. 

When e'er a poor man. 

Chooses a pretty girl for life, 

Some rich guy butts in, 
And she becomes this fellow's wife. 



1 6 SHORT POEMS 



THE SILENT LOVER 

"I love her not," 

The first youth said, 
When I asked him 
About the maid. 

"You bet I do." 
The next repHed, 

"And I want her 
To be my bride." 

But I kept still 

"Twas wise, you see, 
For she's the one 

That married me. 



SHORT rOEMS i? 



MY BOYHOOD DAYS 

The joyous years have passed away 
When many a game we used to play, 
And now my hair has turned to gray, 

But still I praise 

My boyhood days. 

Thus, many a friend that once was gay 

Has also died and passed away, 

And in the church yard now does lay, 

While I still praise 

His boyhood days. 

And all the people then will say, 
When I am dead and turned to clay, 
That in my resting place to-day, 

I still do praise 

My boyhood days. 



SHORT POEMS 



A SILLY LOVE POEM 

The birds were singing, 
The sky was blue, 

We sat together 
As lovers do. 

And laughed and chatted, 

Happy we were, 
It seemed she loved me. 

For I loved her. 

Thus we continued 
For a long while, 

She blushing deeply 
When e'er I'd smile. 

Finally I kissed her, 
I hugged her, too. 

The birds were singing, 
The sky was blue. 

She seemed to like it, 

And so did I, 
While oft she'd whisper 
"Oh, me ; oh, my." 

A gushing fountain 
Was at our feet ; 

Again I kissed her, 
She looked so sweet. 

I called her sweetheart. 
And she didn't mind, 

For there's a saying: 
That Love is blind. 

The birds were singing. 
The sky was blue, 

I won this maiden. 
As lovers do. 



SHORT POEMS 19 



RECOLLFXTIONS 

The scenes of my childhood 

I ne'er will forget, 
The brook and the school-house 

Are haunting me yet. 

Again I can see ye 

Sweet smiling faces, 
And picture with pleasure 

Mother's embraces. 

The large and old school-room, 

How funny it looks, 
The windows are broken, 

And scattered the books. 

The strict old professor. 

Bald-headed and fat, 
Is now gone forever. 

And also his cat. 

The birds singing sweetly. 

From tree unto tree. 
Bring back recollections 

With their melody. 

The scenes of my boyhood 

I ne'er can forget, 
The brook and the school-house 

Are haunting me yet. 



THE POET'S ADVICE 

You can live and be happy. 
If you follow this rule : 

Take advice from the wise man- 
Give advice to the fool. 



SHORT POEMS 



MABEL 

Say friends, have you seen Mabel? 

I love her, yes I do ; 
She doesn't eat at table, 

But she's so kind and true. 

She's full of fun, she's jolly. 

As jolly as she can be, 
It really would be folly. 

If she would part from me. 

I'm sure if you would see her. 
You'd love my Mabel too. 

For when you look straight at her 
She looks right back at you. 

I've known her twenty years, — 
She's quite old now, you see, — 

And I'll shed bitter tears 

When she'll be twenty-three. 

Well friends, have you seen ]\Iabel? 

I love her, yes I do. 
You'll find her at the stable. 

My mare, so kind and true. 



SHORT POEMS 



LONG AGO 

Proudly we walked together 
Among the shady trees, 

While birds were singing gayly. 
And humming were the bees. 

Proudly we walked together, 
With caution, rather slow, 

And kissed each other fondly. 
But this was long ago. 

Proudly we walked together, 
The moon now shone above, 

While in the dark old forest 
We sang sweet songs of love. 

Proudly we wallced together, 
And saw a streamlet flow, 

And drank of its pure water. 
But this was long ago. 

Proudly we walked together, 
When life was one sweet dream. 

And joy and all its pleasures, 
So beautiful did seem. 

Proudly we walked together, 
Alas ! do you not know, 

My sweetheart died and left me. 
And this was long ago. 



SHORT POEMS 



THE INDIANS 

Poor Indians who have fous2:ht and died 
On battle-field and mo'.mtain-sid'e; 

Pursued and tortured, here and there, 
Without a country anywhere. 

The white men took their lands away, 
Instead of asking them to stay. 

They killed the squaws and warriors, too, 
.\nd killed the children as they grew ; 

And then we wonder if some brave 
Scalped a white man, his life to save ; 

lUit 'tis now past; those days are gone 
When Indians died without a groan; 

And now the white men wish that they 
Had left the poor old Indians stay. 

To work with them until they died 
On battle-field and mountain-side. 



SHORT POEMS 23 



MADLY IN LOVE 

The birds may cease their songs to sing : 

The rivers cease to flow ; 
The sun may cease to shine in spring; 

And flowers cease to grow. 

The world may cease to turn again ; 

The sky cease to be blue ; 
The people may cease to complain ; 

And lovers cease to woo. 

My heart may cease to beat, sweetheart, 

But I will happy be, 
For when I'm dying and we part, 

My thoughts will be of thee. 



24 SHORT POEMS 



'TWAS E\"ER THUS 

[From the Spanish of Ramon de Campoamor.] 

A young man loved her, with love insane. 
And she laughed, while he wept all in vain. 

But after a few years had passed by, 

She wept, and he laughed, I know not why. 



SHORT POEMS 25 



IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST 

'Twas in the month of August 
A smile played 'bout her lips, 

When I embraced her fondly 
And kissed her finger-tips. 

'Twas in the month of August 
When we walked side by side, 

The woodland and the meadow 
Were Nature's only guide. 

'Twas in the month of August 

I felt her rosy cheek. 
And though of course I loved her 

My tongue refused to speak. 

'Twas in the month of August 

We waded by a pool. 
As we had done in childhood, 
When on our way to school. 

'Twas in the month of August 

I never will forget. 
She handed me a "lemon," 
But I'll get even yet. 



26 SHORT POEMS 



THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE GIRL 

Red is the sun, 

Red is her cheek, 
Red are her Hps, 

Why did I speak? 

White is the snow. 

White is her hand, 
W^hite are her teeth. 

You understand. 

Bhie is the sea, 

Bkie are her eyes, 
Bhie is the sky, 

What a surprise ! 

Red, white and bhie. 

These colors are — 
She is my girl ; 

I'm proud of her. 



SHORT POEMS 27 



THE TWO LOVERS 

He loves the girl that's dressed in white 

I love the one in blue ; 
He loves the girl that laughs at him, 

I love the one who's true. 

He loves the blonde girl, so he says, 

I love the cute brunette ; 
He loves the girl who's full of fun, 

I love the gay coquette. 

He loves the girl with eyes of gray. 

I love the dark eyed girl ; 
He loves the girl who's rich you see. 

I love the pretty girl. 

He loves the girl who's foot is large, 

I love the foot that's small ; 
He loA^es the girl stumpy and short, 

1 love the one that's tall. 

He loves a girl from Baltimore. 

I love a girl right here ; 
He loves the girl who's far away, 

I love the girl who's near. 

He loves the girl that's dressed in white, 

I love the one in blue ; 
He loves my girl when e'er he can, 

And I love his girl, too. 



28 SHORT POEMS 



TIMES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE 
AUTO CAME INTO USE 

In the days of old. 

Many deeds were wrought 
By the warriors bold, 

As they bravely fought. 

In the present day, 

They are braver still. 
For some poor old cow 

They run o'er and kill. 



SHORT POEMS 29 



THERE'S A GIRL FOR EACH DAY IN 
THE WEEK 

I Song Poem. | 
I. 

I've known the Fluffy Ruffles girl, 

Who walks with haughty air, 
And many another stuck-up girl. 

For whom I do not care. 
But there are many others who 

Are nice as they can be ; 
So I will sing this song to you 

Of girls that do love me. 

II. 

I do not love one girl alone, 

For all seem to be fair. 
As with the girls that I have known 

The others can't compare. 
I'm busy all throughout the week, 

A pretty girl each day 
I gently kiss on their sweet cheek, 

To pass the time away. 

CHORUS : 

On Monday with the chorus girl, 

On Tuesday with dear Kate; 
On Wednesday with the dark-eyed girl, 

On Thursday, a girl I hate; 
On Friday with the sheath-gown girl, 

I take an auto ride. 
On Saturday the Gibson girl 

Is sitting by my side. 
And last of all. a Sunday girl, 

Among the rest I seek ; 
So now you see that there's a girl 

For each day in the week. 



30 SHORT POEMS 



SUCH IS LIFE 

There's one I love more dearly 
Than any girl I know, 

The last time that I saw her, 
'Twas 'hout a month or so. 

There's one I love more dearly 
Than wealth and all its joy. 

Her name I cannot tell you, 
She loved me when a boy. 

There's one I love more dearly 
Than happiness and fame. 

But really do not ask me 
To tell you what's her name. 

There's one I love more dearly 
Than all the stars above. 

Her lips are like the roses. 
And she's the one I love. 

There's one I love more dearly 
But she doesn't love me, 

So what's the use of talking 
About her, don't you see. 



SHORT POEMS 31 



THE LAND OF SIIA'ER AND SUN- 
SHINE 

[ Song Poem. | 
i. 

There's a land not so far from here, 

Where the Rio Grande flows ; 
And which progresses year by year, 

While the population grows. 
Though those happy years have all gone by, 

When in youth I used to play 
With a dark-eyed maiden very shy, 

I still love thee to this day. 

II. 

In this land of beauty and romance, 

Lived the Spaniards long ago, 
But true patriotism did advance, 

And so they were forced to go. 
I have still the picture of a maid, 

Who was so sweet and fair. 
And to whom I gave a serenade, 

So listen now with care : 

chorus: 

Oh, dear land of silver and sunshine, 

Where there's merriment and joy, 
I have worshipped thee by love divine, 

Ever since I was a boy. 
'Tis the land of silver and sunshine. 

And I like it, don't you know ; 
For the land of silver and sunshine. 

Is the land of Mexico. 

REPEAT. 

For the land of silver and sunshine. 
Is the land of Mexico. 



015 897 319 4 



ROSES 

[Song Poem.] 
I. 

Roses bloom and roses fade, 
In the sunshine and the shade. 

And we pick them here and there, 
For we find them everywhere. 

Some are red and some are white, 
And we admire them with dehght. 

Thus for roses we do long. 

And with pleasure sing this song. 

II. 

Lovers always pick the rose, 
From the vine from where it grows. 

While the lovers of to-day, 

To their sweethearts often say: 

"Keep this rose while I'm away, 
Always near you when you pray." 

And to every soldier brave, 
We place roses on his grave. 



chorus: 

Roses are the flowers for me. 
Surely with me you'll agree. 

For the fairest flower that grows, 
Of all flowers, is the rose. 

'Tis the emblem of true love. 
For 'twas made by God above. 

Thus these roses bloom and fade. 
In the simshine and the shade. 



